Historic Cemetery In Vernon Getting Makeover Saturday

VERNON, CT — The Town of Vernon Cemetery Department and Rediscovering History, a volunteer organization dedicated to cleaning up and restoring historic cemeteries, are gathering Saturday at the Old Dobsonville Cemetery on Route 83.

The project is slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Old Dobsonville Cemetery is located at 160 Talcottville Road.

Volunteers will clean and straighten monuments as well as provide tours of the cemetery, which is also known as Southwest Cemetery. The volunteers will also discuss how stones are carved and explain the importance of cemeteries in understanding a community’s history.

Vernon has a dedicated Cemetery Department that maintains and manages five town-owned cemeteries. Rediscovering History typically clears overgrowth and debris from cemeteries, but that is not necessary in Vernon because the cemeteries are well maintained. That allows volunteers to focus on the monuments.

"In Vernon we take seriously our commitment to properly care for and maintain our cemeteries," Mayor Daniel Champagne said. "We want people to visit our cemeteries, to appreciate the history, beauty and sanctity of these places."

Since his appointment, Vernon Cemetery Superintendent Travis Clark has worked to implement the mayor’s vision by inviting the public into Vernon’s cemeteries. His team works hard to create calm, peaceful and inviting places where people can walk and relax.

"Cemeteries serve an important function as a place for the burial and remembrance of our relatives and friends," Clark said. "But they can be so much more. We want people to visit our cemeteries to enjoy the horticulture, the history and the calm, relaxing environment. We want people to feel welcome."

Michael Carroll, the president of Rediscovery History, said his team of volunteers spend most of their time cleaning up neglected cemeteries.

"In cemeteries like Vernon's, where the grounds are well maintained, you sometimes find stones that need to be straightened," Carroll said. "Over time the ground moves and that can cause stones to lean. We also find stones that have fallen over and have been covered with years-worth of leaves and other debris. So, we dig them out of the ground and reset them."

The public is are welcome to observe the work at Old Dobsonville Cemetery on Saturday. For more information about Rediscovering History, visit: https://rediscovering-history....

Parking near the cemetery is limited. People can park on Pleasant View Drive across from the cemetery, then use the crosswalk at Route 83 and Dobson Road to cross Route 83. There is also parking on Miriam Drive, about a quarter-mile from the cemetery.